Saugus: 1900 - 2000
A Century in the Life of Our Town

Old State Theater Made for Poignant Memories

I don't ever remember having any "toys" as a young child.
To entertain ourselves, Theresa Rooney and I used to play
house under my grandmother's back stoop with nothing more
than a few old pots and pans, used tin cans, and a few
spoons. We could whip up the best mud pies you ever had.

The radio was popular then and I remember on rainy days
putting my ear up to the speaker and listening to My Gal
Sunday, which I think was sponsored by Oxydol detergent.
Tuesday nights my grandmother and I listened to the thrilling
adventures of The Lone Ranger: "Let's return to those
thrilling days of yesteryear with the thunder of hoof beats
and the hiddy hiddy ho hi-ho Silver, and who with his loyal
companion Tonto, brought law and order to the Western
civilization..." or words to that effect.

Barbara and Shirley Ulbin were other friends in the
neighborhood and when there was enough of us, we would play
hide-'n'-seek, jump rope, and if chalk was available,
hopscotch. But come Saturday afternoon, all of us would walk
to the State Theater in Saugus Center for the thrill of our
lifetimes.

For 12 cents each we could watch a double feature film,
sometimes in color, a newsreel of current events (like we
cared), and a cartoon festival. The times were wonderful and
local movie-goers at that time all had their special
memories.

Lawrence Nagle remembers the State in the early '40s, and
remembers Bank Night when a winning raffle number would be
drawn. Mr. Nagle purchased a raffle ticket on the previous
Saturday's matinee and was just about to take the bus to the
Center to catch a show and find out if he was a winner. A
friend intercepted him and convinced him to head to Lynn for
a beer. Guess what? They called his number that very night
for an $80 prize, a whole month's pay, lamented Larry (you
had to be present to win prize money).

A big challenge in those days was to try and cop a candy
bar from the candy lady. To this day, Mr. Nagle doesn't know
of anyone who was successful. Frank Jillette used to hid in
the boys' room just so he could see another movie.

Lois (Hobbs) Thomas and her friends walked to the theater
from East Saugus. Her friend, Priscilla Duncan, from upper
Main Street, would meet them on Saturday nights at the show.
Priscilla had an act herself. During intermission she would
hold up her bare foot for all to see. She was born with six
toes on her left foot and she would steal the show with her
antics. During the middle '40s musicals were popular and Lois
and her friends would dance home through Riverside Cemetery
imitating Ginger Rogers and Betty Grable. Lois met Charlie at
the State.

Lillian (Billingsly) MacGlashin remembers dish night on
Wednesdays. Each week a different piece was offered as an
incentive to attend the theater. This was at the same time
when the young girls her age were getting married. So when
each newlywed couple would entertain, they all served dinner
on the same china. Can you imagine any bride putting up with
that today?

To this day, Dot Geehan still uses a favorite serving dish
with the pink roses. Dot fondly remembers the State as
the place to meet boys. Joan Spence would tell her
parents she was going to the library, but she never told them
how long she would be there. The group checked out of the
library as soon as they checked in and headed toward the
State. This gave her the chance to walk by the Rat Hole to
check out the boys, and to let them know her gang was going
to the theater.

Chet Tilly always made dates to meet the girls inside
rather than have to spend money on two tickets. Buddy Murphy
remembers the three-cent sherbet that was served in paper
cups. Business became so good for the London sisters that
they moved their business across the street to what is now
known as J & M's. Buddy also remembers the 3D movies with
the red and green glasses, and the girls of course.

Janice Nelson Stevenson started working at the State when
she was 14. To her, Harry Golden, the manager of the State,
was a wonderful man to work for. Mr. Golden strongly believed
in higher education and kept teasing Janice that she would
never continue in her education. He told her that if she did
go on to college, he would pay for her marriage license; she
did and he did.

Chickie Stead Hollett worked as the popcorn girl during
her high school years and could hear all the gossip from the
girls' room, which was right next to the candy stand. She
knew firsthand who was dating and who was two-timing.

Jack Rouleau, a popular usher, kept law and order with his
flashlight. He told me that when a kid started acting up he
would walk down and shine the flashlight on the perpetrator's
face so the policeman in the back row could get a copy of
him.

"Almost 99 percent of the kids behaved; we never had any
trouble," said Jack. Kids did sneak in the side door on
occasion, but just for fun. Mr. Rouleau, whose entire family
worked at the theater for many years, fondly remembered my
husband, Ron, who would make an appearance Saturday nights
dressed to the nines. He was one of the fashion plates of
Saugus Center, according to Jack. (Can you imagine him
wearing a suit to the show today?)

Jackie Powers Howard didn't know of anyone who didn't go
to the State Theater. Everyone went there -- there was no
place else to go, anyway!

Yvonne Rouleau Naselroad also worked at the popcorn and
candy counter as a young teenager. Mr. Rubin, the owner,
would count the new boxes of popcorn upon opening the counter
so at the end of each show he would know how many boxes were
sold. Knowing this, Yvonne's friends would save their boxes
and sneak back for a refill. Mr. Rubin never caught on. He
never "lost" a candy bar, but he sure went through a lot of
popcorn.

Christine (Howlett) Donahue remembers the "who could kiss
the longest" kissing contests Saturday afternoons during the
late '50s. Chris swears she was never a winner, but never
denied having ever been a contestant! She refused to release
the names of the winners, but there were many, according to
her!

Barbara Ulbin Cloonan forgot her money one Saturday. The
management would not allow her to go in for nothing. She
cried all the way home that day.

I remember seeing The Barefoot Contessa, Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes with Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, and
James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause.

Those were great days of such simple, safe, and happy
times, when all you worried about was getting a good seat and
some penny candy. I really don't think I ever missed out on
not having toys -- I had a wonderful childhood.